Graduates across the nation are throwing their hats in the celebration toss and their resumes in the job market frenzy.

It is a tough time for college grads with unemployment in the US at near 9 percent. Jobs are difficult and the competition is tough.

Graduates just have to remember their years of study is an investment into the future and sometimes it takes a little longer than first expected for investments to pay off. They have several years invested in their future and they will find that pay-off. It might possibly  be a good time to go ahead and get that masters or other advance degrees if a job does not appear on the immediate scale.

High school grads not entering college will also be facing the tough job market.

We certainly encourage everyone to advance to college. But, we all know this is not going to happen and the job market today provides many skilled professions to provide a nice livelihood for themselves and for a family. There are several skilled training centers and this is an excellent time for these young people to prepare for their future. Whether it is in mechanics, carpentry, electricity, plumbing, health care or whatever, we encourage you to prepare yourselves.

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Completely leaving the subject of grads, we were shocked this week to read that the Veterans Administration estimates that on any given day there are 154,000 homeless veterans.

Living in Russell County, we are somewhat sheltered from witnessing many of the daily homeless problems occurring in the larger cities.

It is so hard for most of us to realize there are thousand and thousands of homeless each and every night and especially to read there were so many veterans living without a bed to go to sleep.

The homeless situation is so devastating and to think that men and women who have given so much to the armed services are now suffering so extensively.

We are so fortunate to live in a community like Russell. We are aware many are struggling to make financial ends meet, to keep their homes, to feed their families.

But, at least, anyone who is in desperate need here can  normally find food and shelter.